Productivity

So, I promised some additional things on the blog this week. Oh, I didn't forget, I am just nervous about showing what else I do. Why??? Because it isn't perfect. I mean come on, with the blog even the goverment can laugh at me!! It came out okay, I do sorta like it, it will be fine where it sits under the pergola. It won't be all I pictured it being. You know, I thought a magizine would for sure hear about it and be at my house for a photo shoot before I had time to get it done. Well, it's fine and don't rush to the magazine isle to see it.

The word fine. Who else hates it? It defines nothing. Totally noncommital. That's why I am not in love with this project. It is fine, it will do. But no guest will notice it, they will just sit on it and at some point even I will forget it is at my disposal. I'll probably buy a duplicate.

But the next thing I have to show you is a purse I am crazy in love with!! (It is way better than FINE!). Serious. I can picture this purse in a dozen fabrics, with all kinds of handles and all kinds of cities! Sisters, I love this purse. I think this is the feeling Vera Bradley had right before she went B.I.G.

Was fortunate to sell some really cute skirts this week and am tickled pink about that!! It was the "cupcake" skirt. Figured out how to finish the waist band so it looks way more professional and the feeling of accomplishment that goes with that is incredible. Love this skirt. Would almost be willing to "donate" one to every girl child born at Riverside on a Friday. I also received a book from my dearest auntie this week that is going to change the way I promote myself and make you actually enjoy my blog. I can't out her, but everyone of you are going to be thankful she hooked me up!

So please leave a comment on this site for me so I know if anyone is reading this. Also, it will also let me know if the purse is horrid. I don't want to misrepresent myself.

Cheers.
Ivena

That Amy Butler I promised. And a comment or two.

Hello Friends.

I spoke in the last post about an Amy Butler purse pattern I had picked up; what I didn't tell about was this incredible fabric I picked up at Sew To Speak. I didn't ruin the surprise after all did I??


Isn't it awesome? I had to buy the pattern because I didn't have one that was large enough to encompass the awesome motif! Now, a couple comments about the pattern.

A. Little hard to follow, lots of parts to piece together with very similar names. I think it could be dumbed down so it went quicker and less frustrating. This is just me. Others might think this pattern was a walk in the park. But I have a penchant for the PDF patterns I buy off etsy.com that comes with lots of pictures and super easy instructions.

B. Does anyone know why she likes sew-in batting. Lord, that was hell.

Okay done. Hope you enjoy the final product. Feel free to make a comment or two. This blog is supposed to be interactive.

By the way, hopefully soon, I will be showing a couple other tricks I have up my sleeve. That's right kiddo, I am not a one trick pony!

Desire to be perfect.

Hello all. It occurred to me this evening as I was putting together an apron, and taking it apart, that we all want everything we do to be perfect. I had a small slope in my hem on this apron, so took out 44 inches of hem and redid it. It was about 2 inches long of slope increased from the baseline MAYBE 1/4 inch. Was this overkill?? HELL YES. So now, there are holes where the old hem was and I spent 40 minutes picking out loose threads. That was when it occurred to me, who in the world would have noticed that slope? Well, I would have. But that is because I look for imperfections in what I do. You know what that leads me to do? Under price what I do and devalue my time. (Devalue MIGHT not be a word, but I like it!)

Anyway, I think most people who "craft" do this. Yesterday I was looking through a BHG mag and an advertisment had a sewn coushin and I could see how the fabric was angled wrong on one corner. WHO CARES?? Did the overall room still look incredible? YES it did. Did the aforementioned apron still look adorable with the slope?? I am going with yes. But I spent 40 minutes fixing a little imperfection.

I think Van Gough started with all mistakes. Certainly upon first seeing his art people did not think "wow, that's incredible". But I beat myself up over tiny mis-stiches.

So the point to all of this? For the people who say " I could never do that". I REALLY think you are wrong. I think the fear of not being perfect in our creations truly holds us all back. Sloppy is one thing, but a small imperfection only you can see or some OCD freak like myself would see is another.

So now, if you see my stuff in person, and it looks sloppy, let me know. But if you see it and you tell me that looks great, FOR NOW ON I am just going to say thank you with a smile and not point out to you where the mistake is!

I am posting a few things I completed this week and hope you enjoy them. Next week look for a couple more cupcake skirts and I picked up a new to me Amy Butler purse pattern and a SUPER KICKA$$ fabric from Sew To Speak this week. It is killing to do the other stuff I have to complete first.

Take Care. And really, why not try something new?